The Kenosha Fire Department, Kenosha County Opioid Task Force, Kenosha County Office of the Medical Examiner and the Kenosha County Division of Health want to alert the public of a recent concentration of suspected opioid-related overdoses in the City of Kenosha.
In the first nine days of June, the Kenosha Fire Department responded to 17 calls for service to assist patients who had overdosed — 13 of which were opioid-related, said EMS Division Chief Jim Poltrock. Four of the calls occurred on June 9, three of them simultaneously, he said.
“This usually signals that some strong or fentanyl-laced heroin has come into the city,” Poltrock said. "We have seen overdose spikes before, and each time we try to get the word out that heroin and other opioids are an ongoing problem in our community.”
Kenosha County Medical Examiner Patrice Hall said there were three suspected overdose deaths in the county between May 26 and June 3.
“We are awaiting toxicology results to confirm the cause of death,” Hall said. “These three deaths occurred outside of the City of Kenosha.”
Poltrock said 10 of the 13 opioid overdose patients that the Fire Department has responded to this month were revived with Narcan administered by EMS personnel; one received Narcan from a bystander prior to the Fire Department’s arrival. All four of the June 9 patients were revived and are alive.
Division of Health staff are able to conduct Narcan trainings over the phone, online or in-person. The medication can then be dropped off on your porch, business or picked up at the Job Center. Please call 262-605-6741 or email narcan@kenoshacounty.org to schedule a session.
The Kenosha County Division of Health is available to train any adult on how to use Narcan, a medication that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, allowing the person to breathe again and receive medical attention.
Through a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Kenosha County Division of Health is able to offer the medication and training free of cost.
The Kenosha County Department of Human Services also has a Comprehensive Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program in partnership with Professional Services Group, and a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Resource Center that can be reached at 800-236-7188.
For those who are feeling overwhelmed, upset, triggered or otherwise in crisis, the Kenosha County Crisis Line is available 24/7, 365 days a year at 262-657-7188. The Crisis Line is able to provide substance abuse disorder treatment resources.